title: Wrist slashing in a detention center. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Suicides that occur in custody are rare and thus require extensive forensic analysis. Asphyxia by hanging is the most common means of suicide: at least 87.5% of successful suicides are committed in this way. A unique case of suicide in custody is presented in which a prisoner slashed his wrist with an eyeglass lens. The evidence and proceedings that led to this suicide are reviewed and the data are compared with known behavioral patterns. The world literature concerning suicide while incarcerated is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Herrin Hospital Laboratory, Southern Illinois University Medical School, Carbondale.
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019838:Neck Injuries; D011329:Prisoners; D013405:Suicide; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000473:pathology*; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000473:pathology*